Big Stars, Forgotten Shows - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Jude The Obscure · 06-07-2008, 05:40 PM

Being a big movie star is no guarantee that if you attempt a TV series, you have a smash hit. Often I've been surprised to see movie stars (esp from the golden days) with TV shows that were colossal flops and now, most people don't ever recall the shows themselves.

Such as

Bing Crosby--The Bing Crosby Show
Gene Kelly--Going My Way (1963 series adaptation of the movie)
Henry Fonda--The Deputy; The Smith Family (series with Ron Howard, c 1971)
Jimmy Stewart--The Jimmy Stewart Show; Hawkins
Shirley MacClaine--Shirley's World

I know there are more examples of this--so come on, help out on this list

tv star collector · 06-07-2008, 06:27 PM

I wouldn't exactly consider The Deputy a flop; it did run for two seasons
(which is more than you can say for a lot of series). In fact, nowadays a show is lucky to last one whole season.

However, I have always found it interesting that--as a general rule--TV stars
have had more success in movies than motion picture stars have had on
television.

Other examples:
The Judy Garland Show (1963-'64; opposite Bonanza)

That's the only one, not already mentioned, that I can think of at the moment.

catlover79 · 06-07-2008, 09:01 PM

Oscar winner Richard Dreyfuss struck out with 2001's The Education of Max Bickford, which co-starred another Academy Award winner, Marcia Gay Harden. Yet another Oscar winner, Geena Davis, starred in the flops The Geena Davis Show (2000-01) and Commander In Chief (2005-06).

70s show watcher · 06-08-2008, 12:16 AM

bette midler had a big flop wit bette a few years ago and i have to say that even though i cant stand her myself i know she has alot of fans and i did think the show would be a hit because so many people seem to like her

Ireneparalegal · 06-08-2008, 12:32 AM

The show with Whoopie Goldberg...I think it was called Baghdad Cafe.

Why was Commander in Chief cancelled anyways? I thought it did good ratings-wise.

Jude The Obscure · 06-08-2008, 12:42 AM

Yep, Whoopi and Jean Stapleton had that sitcom based on the movie of the same name--Baghdad Cafe. CBS aired it on Friday nights (along with the short-lived Sugar & Spice with Loretta Devine). I enjoyed it.

As for Commander--it started out strong, but petered out as the season went along (especially after Steven Bocho took over production).

I think Jerry Lewis had a primetime variety show that floundered around for one or two seasons, not sure.

Sammi Davis Jr, did one of those splashy daytime talk/variety shows ala Merv Griffin--I think it lasted one year before getting axed.

Ireneparalegal · 06-08-2008, 12:47 AM

Joan Rivers late night talk show. I liked it much better when it turned into the Arsenio Hall show.

Howie Mandel had a daytime talk show, how long did that last?

Jude The Obscure · 06-08-2008, 12:56 AM

Fox was really stupid when they didn't offer Arsenio the permanent hosting gig for "The Late Show on FOX". Paramount saw the opportunity and grabbed it--sure, his show only lasted 5 year in latenight, but still to this day, people remember his show and of course, Bill Clinton playing the sax on there, started the whole politicians going on entertainment programs to reach the voters thing.

Howie Mandel I think lasted two years in daytime.

Another flop--Martin Short--in saturday morning (Ed Grimely), in primetime (I can't recall the name of the sitcom) and in daytime (1 season).

Ireneparalegal · 06-08-2008, 12:57 AM

Thanx Jude, you really know your stuff.

I went to a taping of one Arsenio Hall show. Very memorable and lots of fun.

dawsongirl · 06-08-2008, 10:09 PM

What about that one Whoopi did recently...just called Whoopi maybe? She worked in a hotel with all sorts of odd people, like a white girl who talked like she was black, and some Arabian guy. I'm thinking her character's name was Mavis.

howierules86 · 06-09-2008, 01:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dawsongirl

What about that one Whoopi did recently...just called Whoopi maybe? She worked in a hotel with all sorts of odd people, like a white girl who talked like she was black, and some Arabian guy. I'm thinking her character's name was Mavis.

Yes, that one was indeed called "Whoopi" from the 2003-04 season on NBC. Her character's name was indeed Mavis, and she did work at a hotel. Supporting characters included Rita, the "white girl who talked like she was black," and Nasim, the hotel's Persian janitor with implied terrorist connections.

jayman75 · 06-09-2008, 08:28 PM

Marie Osmond and Betty White had a show called Maybe This Time. It co-starred Ashley Johnson, who was the youngest kid on Growing Pains.

Ireneparalegal · 06-09-2008, 08:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by howierules86

Yes, that one was indeed called "Whoopi" from the 2003-04 season on NBC. Her character's name was indeed Mavis, and she did work at a hotel. Supporting characters included Rita, the "white girl who talked like she was black," and Nasim, the hotel's Persian janitor with implied terrorist connections.

I loved that show.

HuntingtonM15 · 06-09-2008, 08:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 70s show watcher

bette midler had a big flop wit bette a few years ago and i have to say that even though i cant stand her myself i know she has alot of fans and i did think the show would be a hit because so many people seem to like her

And that was right after she won a People's Choice award for it.

Ireneparalegal · 06-09-2008, 08:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HuntingtonM15

And that was right after she won a People's Choice award for it.

Goes to show it doesn't matter what the people want. It is what the industry wants to present to us.

06-07-2008, 05:40 PM	#1
Jude The Obscure Retired Eternal Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Dec 10, 2006 Posts: 7,520	Big Stars, Forgotten Shows Being a big movie star is no guarantee that if you attempt a TV series, you have a smash hit. Often I've been surprised to see movie stars (esp from the golden days) with TV shows that were colossal flops and now, most people don't ever recall the shows themselves. Such as Bing Crosby--The Bing Crosby Show Gene Kelly--Going My Way (1963 series adaptation of the movie) Henry Fonda--The Deputy; The Smith Family (series with Ron Howard, c 1971) Jimmy Stewart--The Jimmy Stewart Show; Hawkins Shirley MacClaine--Shirley's World I know there are more examples of this--so come on, help out on this list

06-07-2008, 09:01 PM	#3
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,392	Oscar winner Richard Dreyfuss struck out with 2001's The Education of Max Bickford, which co-starred another Academy Award winner, Marcia Gay Harden. Yet another Oscar winner, Geena Davis, starred in the flops The Geena Davis Show (2000-01) and Commander In Chief (2005-06).
	__________________ "Jesus loves you and He approves this message." "I'm alive. I'm feeling good. I'm trying to live every moment as much as I can." - Valerie Harper, March 2013

06-08-2008, 12:32 AM	#5
Ireneparalegal LEGAL SPICE ;) Forum Legend Join Date: Jul 25, 2005 Location: OXNARD, CA - WHERE THE DALLAS COWBOYS TRAIN & PRACTICE Posts: 38,691	The show with Whoopie Goldberg...I think it was called Baghdad Cafe. Why was Commander in Chief cancelled anyways? I thought it did good ratings-wise.
	__________________ DALLAS COWBOYS ARE HERE AT TRAINING CAMP!!!

06-09-2008, 08:28 PM	#12
jayman75 I Love the 80s! Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Dec 27, 2000 Location: THE GREAT UNITED STATES Posts: 3,809	Marie Osmond and Betty White had a show called Maybe This Time. It co-starred Ashley Johnson, who was the youngest kid on Growing Pains.
	__________________ A fan of quality, classic television comedies and holiday specials... The Wonder Years,The Golden Girls,Burns and Allen, The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Are You Being Served?, Family Guy, South Park, Designing Women, Dallas, The Facts of Life, Roseanne, Will and Grace, The Twilight Zone, Original Scooby-Doo, Murphy Brown, The Big Bang Theory... Talk to me about one of these shows, and I'm all yours...

06-07-2008, 06:27 PM	#2
tv star collector I Love Susie Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Oct 18, 2005 Location: South Carolina Posts: 4,487	I wouldn't exactly consider The Deputy a flop; it did run for two seasons (which is more than you can say for a lot of series). In fact, nowadays a show is lucky to last one whole season. However, I have always found it interesting that--as a general rule--TV stars have had more success in movies than motion picture stars have had on television. Other examples: The Judy Garland Show (1963-'64; opposite Bonanza) That's the only one, not already mentioned, that I can think of at the moment.

06-08-2008, 12:16 AM	#4
70s show watcher Member Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: May 20, 2008 Location: between point place and studio 8 h Posts: 4,549	bette midler had a big flop wit bette a few years ago and i have to say that even though i cant stand her myself i know she has alot of fans and i did think the show would be a hit because so many people seem to like her

06-08-2008, 12:42 AM	#6
Jude The Obscure Retired Eternal Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Dec 10, 2006 Posts: 7,520	Yep, Whoopi and Jean Stapleton had that sitcom based on the movie of the same name--Baghdad Cafe. CBS aired it on Friday nights (along with the short-lived Sugar & Spice with Loretta Devine). I enjoyed it. As for Commander--it started out strong, but petered out as the season went along (especially after Steven Bocho took over production). I think Jerry Lewis had a primetime variety show that floundered around for one or two seasons, not sure. Sammi Davis Jr, did one of those splashy daytime talk/variety shows ala Merv Griffin--I think it lasted one year before getting axed.

06-08-2008, 12:47 AM	#7
Ireneparalegal LEGAL SPICE ;) Forum Legend Join Date: Jul 25, 2005 Location: OXNARD, CA - WHERE THE DALLAS COWBOYS TRAIN & PRACTICE Posts: 38,691	Joan Rivers late night talk show. I liked it much better when it turned into the Arsenio Hall show. Howie Mandel had a daytime talk show, how long did that last?

06-08-2008, 12:56 AM	#8
Jude The Obscure Retired Eternal Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Dec 10, 2006 Posts: 7,520	Fox was really stupid when they didn't offer Arsenio the permanent hosting gig for "The Late Show on FOX". Paramount saw the opportunity and grabbed it--sure, his show only lasted 5 year in latenight, but still to this day, people remember his show and of course, Bill Clinton playing the sax on there, started the whole politicians going on entertainment programs to reach the voters thing. Howie Mandel I think lasted two years in daytime. Another flop--Martin Short--in saturday morning (Ed Grimely), in primetime (I can't recall the name of the sitcom) and in daytime (1 season).

06-08-2008, 12:57 AM	#9
Ireneparalegal LEGAL SPICE ;) Forum Legend Join Date: Jul 25, 2005 Location: OXNARD, CA - WHERE THE DALLAS COWBOYS TRAIN & PRACTICE Posts: 38,691	Thanx Jude, you really know your stuff. I went to a taping of one Arsenio Hall show. Very memorable and lots of fun.

06-08-2008, 10:09 PM	#10
dawsongirl Member Forum Icon Join Date: Jan 04, 2001 Posts: 53,140	What about that one Whoopi did recently...just called Whoopi maybe? She worked in a hotel with all sorts of odd people, like a white girl who talked like she was black, and some Arabian guy. I'm thinking her character's name was Mavis.